If you've started finding tufts of cat hair on every surface in the house again, that's not your imagination. Spring is peak shedding season for most cats, as their body sheds the heavier winter coat in favour of something lighter for the warmer months ahead.
Why shedding spikes now specifically
Cats shed in response to daylight length, not temperature, which is why it happens reliably every spring regardless of how warm or cool it actually is outside. The undercoat that kept them warm through winter starts coming loose all at once, rather than gradually, which is why it can feel sudden even though it's completely normal.
Brushing more often actually matters here
During shedding season, loose fur that isn't brushed out ends up swallowed during grooming, which is where hairballs come from. A quick brush every couple of days during this period does more than just reduce fur on your furniture, it genuinely cuts down on hairballs too.
A steam brush helps here in a way a dry brush doesn't. The gentle warm steam loosens the undercoat as you go, so more fur comes away in the brush instead of staying tangled near the skin. It also tends to be more comfortable for cats who normally tolerate brushing but don't love it.
Signs you're behind on it
Matting is the clearest sign, usually starting behind the ears, under the arms, or near the belly where cats can't reach well themselves. If you're seeing small tangles starting to form, it's worth catching up on brushing before they get tighter and harder to work out.
This eases off within a few weeks
Shedding season doesn't last forever, it typically settles down within four to six weeks once the coat transition is done. Keeping up with brushing during this window is really just about getting through the heaviest part without it becoming a bigger grooming job than it needs to be.